Update: On Friday afternoon, the reward to find Irk, the Beeville Police Department's missing K-9 increased again. This information was released after press-time.

Police Chief Joe Treviño said Apollo Wrecker Service of Corpus Christi announced that the company would match the Crime Stoppers reward if it is paid.

“That brings it to $4,000,” Treviño said.

Story as published...

Police Chief Joe Treviño said Thursday that the Crime Stoppers reward for information leading to the arrest of whomever might be harboring a stolen police dog has been increased to $2,000.

Normally, Crime Stoppers rewards peak out at $1,000. But the search for Irk, the missing police dog, is not a normal incident.

Evidence was found that Irk got out of his handler’s yard in northeast Beeville a week ago.

Since then, several massive searches have been launched to try to locate the missing animal, even to the point that police officers and firefighters have gone door-to-door in the neighborhood where the dog went missing.

Irk is a three-year-old, highly trained, black and tan German shepherd that weighs close to 70 pounds.

Because of his breeding and his training, Irk is valued at more than $1,500.

That means keeping him from his rightful owner, the Beeville Police Department, is a state jail felony.

Anyone who might have the animal faces a term of up to two years in a state jail facility and a $10,000 fine.

But anyone who sees Irk being held against his will could be eligible for a $2,000 reward if that person reports it and the report turns up the missing dog and leads to an arrest.

Treviño said investigators searching for Irk have not seen him and no one has seen the body of a large German shepherd in or near the city. So police are ruling out the possibility that Irk is roaming the city looking for his home or that he has been hurt, possibly struck by a car.

The chief said police are fairly certain someone has Irk penned up against his will. That is felony theft, he added.

Irk wears a leather collar with a brass nameplate on it and a silver choke chain.

He is a large but friendly dog. But, most of all, he is valuable. And he is more valuable to the BPD than he is to any individual.

The chief has offered to take the dog back from anyone who might have him or might find him, no questions asked and no charges filed.

But that offer will not remain in effect for long. If someone wants to avoid a felony arrest or being reported to Crime Stoppers in exchange for a $2,000 reward, the dog must be returned to the BPD quickly.

Police and animal control officers have responded to numerous calls regarding the sighting of a large German shepherd. That means citizens are on the lookout for the dog.

If anyone knows where the dog might be, they should contact the BPD at (361) 358-8100, or call Coastal Bend Crime Stoppers at (877) 362-0206. The local number is 362-0206. Internet users may contact Crime Stoppers by email at coastalbendcrimestoppers.com.

Gary Kent is a reporter at the Bee-Picayune and can be reached at 343-5220, or at reporter@mySouTex.com.